AUTOCHTHONOUS SPECIES
Our Legacy from the past
The Montado of Freixo do Meio is a living system, rich and complex, formed by the relations of thousands of beings from all seven kingdoms.
The Montado of Freixo do Meio is a living system, rich and complex, formed by the relations of thousands of beings from all seven kingdoms.
The domesticated animals we cooperate with in Montado do Freixo do Meio are essential elements, not only ensuring the workings of the natural system but also for its regeneration. The practice of holistic husbandry at Freixo do Meio, attracted the attention of its creator, Allan Savory, who visited in 2019.
They are, therefore, the most emblematic and ancestral breeds from the Iberian Peninsula, being the closest to the wild ancestor that originated them. This allows them to, in large measure, retain the capacity to play vital roles in the ecosystem.
In parallel, we did an active work of genetic conservation, by managing assets and cooperating with the official genealogical records of the breeds, as well as contributing to the preservation of the collective gastronomical cultural heritage.
The Sorraia horses form a permanent herd of 8 unique mares. The Barrosã cows, a herd of 100 individuals. The Bagueiro donkeys form a family of 12 members. The Alentejano pigs, are a herd of 300 permanent allies. The black merino sheep are a flock of 200 recyclers. And the black Lusitanian chickens form a band of 50 regulators.
Our mission is to build a community around Herdade Freixo do Meio that is democratic, inclusive, transparent, autonomous, and resilient, that achieves a constantly improving relationship with natural resources, and that encourages personal development.
